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Help me choose the apropriate speaker to built
Dear friends I am interested to built a pair of Pi speakers and I will post some pictures of my living room in order to visualize the space and the choose the correct type . Some info about me first ... I am the type of audiophile who doesn't change his system as far It plays ok this had lead me to own equipment (same amp and speakers) about 20 years.Now I believe its time to change my speakers.Reading almost 30 pages of pi speaker forum and I plan to read all I am considering pi two model or tower or three but it is expensive for me this period of time .Model two reviews from builders are convincing (one of them compared with audio notes anj and that was enough for me to choose)and I think I will procced with model two because of the easy construction and why I am used all these years listening from tweeters and I believe is a safe bet. Below is an hard scetch of my living room.Sory for the Greek language and metric, I have attached some pictures also to help you somehow. I believe pi model 2 is suited best but read that pi 2 tower might be a candidate but I am afraid of the extra lower bass dominate my small space. My audio equipment is an audion sterling el34 se amp about 10 watts 20 years old,my speakers are Proac tablette 50's also 20 years old, my dac is musical fidelity v90 and my digital transport a humble raspberry pi. http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2012/06/audion-el34-sterling-anniversary-hard-wired-power-amplifier/ https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2015/05/23/review-raspberry-pi-2-as-music-streamer/ http://www.stereophile.com/content/musical-fidelity-v90-dac-da-processor http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/proac-anniversary-tablette/ Some reviews are for the newest models so mine are a notch or two down on apreciation. So I am intrigued from Π speakers and looking for the apropriate guidance. P.S. Sorry for my bad English it is not my native language . I am willing to answer what ever question you provide . My music tastes are blues , some jazz ,greek folk music classic rock and what ever is interesting.
Re: Help me choose the apropriate speaker to built
I forgot to mention that I asked Wayne for pi 2 plans some time ago but when started exploring the forum I found that maybe pi 2 tower or pi three (out of my reach for now) will work also.
Also as you can see the room boundaries are restricted there is not enough space from back walls the most is about 10 to 15 inches. And a little more from side walls. There are any pictures or stuff hanging on the walls because we repaint the house and my wife hasn't decide yet what to useful lol!!!
I think two π towers would sound great in your room. But three π or four π mains with flanking subs would sound even better!
Thanks Wayne for the input.I will try first with the two model because of financial shortage. I will follow your advice for building towers if you can send me the plans . I've read somewhere about a replacement tweeter sb something is it worth it or the vifa is better (I assume vifa is better) also are there any crossover parts which can be upgraded and elevate the performance?
You've got mail! There are no upgrades available for the one π, two π or two π towers.
Thank you Wayne once more .One question probably silly ... The dimensions on the plans are outside dimensions including the wood panel thickness right?
Looking for tweeters and woofers in my country (I wish there were no customs and postage costs to buy them direct from pi speakers) I can found VIFA DX25TG05-04 instead of DX25TG59-04 ,is it the same driver but new old stock or they are different maybe newer model upgraded ? I assume is a change of coding since Vifa became Tymphany but I am asking to be sure.
You can use that tweeter. It is the part we originally used but has since been discontinued.
Hi again ,having a little spare time I continued to read almost all the previus pages on the forum . I bumbed on an interesting unofficial built ,the One Pi Tower . My wife is a little considered about building Pi two towers so I decided to build first the plain 2 pi's without finishing as test cabinets placed close to rear wall with a pair of 50 centimeter steel bases which I have from old project . If later on I'll miss the bass (I bet they will sound fuller than my current speakers (5inch woofers))maybe I'll try convince my wife to get permision or divorce for 2pi tower built. As I mentioned above I bump to One pi tower speaker and as Wayne states on a question they are standing between 2pi and 2Pi tower. So considering that both 2pi and 1pi tower have the same WAF in my case I can built both (the cost and labour doesnt make too much differnce). To be honest I am leaning 99% on Pi2 because is well documented and there is huge suport from Wayne but I have to investigate it for that 1% . I have the belief without having enough techical knowledge that pi 2 will not stretch to much the Alpha 10 as the 2 pi tower to get extra bass and the same happens with One pi and one pi tower. If stretching is not the issue, what are the sonic differences between 8" and 10" alphas to cosnsider for using one or the other ? From what I have read regarding light paper cones, the 8" because of the lower cone weight must be sound more controled precise and fast than it's bigger brother? Or that depends on the application and the design. These are my thoughts so far sorry if my English are not good .
I can answer about the one pi tower. The Alpha 8 has an advantage over the Alpha 10 in the midrange to upper midrange. It's a bit noticeably smoother. The 10 of course has a bit more bass impact and reaches a bit lower. I used a planar magnetic tweeter, and crossover was the same point as Wayne's 1 and 2 Pi's except that because of the planar' very resistive load, the resistors weren't needed. You could just go with the dome tweeters too. All you have to do is redesign the box volume and vent. Be careful of vent placement in any tower design. (I moved the vent to the back, echoing Wayne's design on the 2Pi tower.) The basic design, by Walton? on the internet works well. The 2Pi tower is really nice but it's a big box. Your wife may not approve.
Thanks Steve for the reply .I am referring on this post by Fred T http://audioroundtable.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&goto=50492&#msg_50492 probably they are the same plans as Walton audios www.iol.ie/~waltonaudio/pione.html Fred T and Pi speakers mentioned as well so I believe there is a connection. If I decide I will follow the dimensions mentioned because I don't have enough knowledge to create a speaker by my self .Also I am determined except minor experimentation with crossover parts just for fun to built something solid ,tested etc to replace my current speakers.That's why I am skeptical to deviate from Wayne's speaker designs.Your description about sound properties of 8" Alphas put me in consideration though ,because my current speakers have that character which I would like to have in next speaker .As I mention at my first post I am happy with my current system but when the setup was bought I was lived in a small room and It sounded awesome .After some years I was married ,now I am a father of two and at the new home setup although the system sounds good it can't physically push more air.My daughter threw a party in winter and I borrowed a ss amp although the speakers played louder than my small amp the feeling of not sound filling the place it was evident.So what I need is the "feel" and I dont care much about lower bass I guess I am used to feel happy so many years with my small speaker (I bet they are tuned somewhere 60-70Hz ) so with an octave or two lower if something play same or better as my current speakers and fill the room I will be the happiest man on the world.
I forgot to add that a pair of 1 PI speakers per channel will play very loud. All you do is build four of the 1Pi speakers, and stack them inverted with the tweeters close to each other. They will play LOUD. Not to say the 1Pi won't. My son inherited my 1Pi speakers, and with a sub shakes his townhouse. I believe he uses Quicksilver Minis, that's only twenty five tube watts a channel. Enjoy your project.
Thanks Steve . I must admit that there is a wealth of information on the forum but it is difficult to found the exact part somebody is looking for .So I suggest for anyone to be patient and look for information even at the last pages . For instance I found the exact answers looking for here... http://audioroundtable.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=12404&start=0& http://audioroundtable.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=10391&start=0& http://audioroundtable.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=12281&start=0& http://audioroundtable.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=10091&start=0&